White Fang (signed copy)

Kumiko MOTOKI

First edition Self-published, 2014

Signed and numbered edition of 300 copies (this is n°46)

52 pages - 240 x 320 mm

Softcover printing and binding by the author

A book created / finalized during a photobook-making workshop with photographer Jan Rosseel and Reminders Stronghold Photography curator Yumi Goto. Gorgeously produced with high

quality papers and printing and bound by a single purple string.

A very well printing book, with intense blacks; a really beautifull production hand-crafted by the artist himself.

A dark and violent book about dog fights in Northern Japan, mixing color and B&W photography. The grainy black & white images certainly avoid blunt confrontation with the cruelty of the fighting, but definitely convey - possibly even more intensely - the violence, the insanity and the pain...

NB : Each copy of this book is hand-made and hand-bound, and variations and imperfections may consequently appear within this edition as part of the creation and production process.

Synonymous with Jack London’s literary classic also entitled ‘White Fang’, Motoki’s photographs portraying the dog fighting or “Inu AI” (Dog Meeting) tradition in the northern prefecture of Aomori captures both the nature and relationship between owner and animal as well as the battle between the animals themselves. Motoki's self published_White Fang_tells the history of this tradition, how it began and how it has changed within society from post-war japan up until today, balancing both the cultural sensitivities towards dog fights with the pride, honor and tradition in which the fights are carried out. Here the images are stark and compelling, beautifully managing to encapsulate environment and landscapewithin the hand bound publication complete with illustrative insets, utilizing portraiture in capturing man and animal along the visual narratives of the timeless binaries of nature vs nurture , wild vs tamed.

"Before the Second World War in Japan, dog fights were common. But, as the war worsened, so did the food situation, and consequently, owning a big dog was criticized. Some military policemen who were afraid that the dogs might escape and become strays if their cages were destroyed in an air raid, shot and killed many dogs. After the war, the dog fighting restarted; many people believe that it became popular again. However, the Animal Protection Organization strongly opposed dog fighting. Now, dog fighting is prohibited in the Tokyo area.

In January 2014, I went to Aomori to see a dog fight. Aomori is a snowy area, located at the northern part of Japan. Well-trained dogs, along with the pride and joy of their owners, arrived at the fighting ring early in the morning. The dogs seemed to want to fight on instinct, as if it was their destiny." - Motoki